Automatic assembly apparatus



y 1966 s. s. AIDLIN AUTOMATIC ASSEMBLY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1964 INVENTOR -Samue/ Aid/H7 ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1964 8 Q Q mm May 3, 1966 s. s. AlDLlN 3,248,785

AUTOMATIC ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

United States Patent M 3,248,785 AUTOMATIC ASSEMBLYv APPARATUS Samuel S. Aidlin, 214 Beaumont St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,108

12 Claims. (Cl. 29-208) The present invention relates to automatic apparatus for use in the assembly of pressurized dispensing containers for liquid material, such as Aerosol cans. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the provision of apparatus for the automatic assembly of the discharge'head and tube of a pressurized dispensing container with the receptacle portion thereof.

Certain types of pressurized fluid-dispensing containers, wherein the pressurizing gas is disposed in the receptacle in the same compartment with the liquid to be dispensed, discharge their liquid contents through a tube connected to the outlet valve in the discharge head and extending to the bottom of the receptacle. In prevalent commercial practice, such tube is formed of a flexible, synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene, and is generally cut from a continuous roll of such tubing. As a result, each discharge tube, which is set by one end into the discharge head, is inherently curved and its free end is generally out of alinement with and offset relative to the discharge head. Since the end of the tube must first be inserted into the receptacle or can opening before'the head is lowered into place over such opening, to be secured thereto, and since such tube end is generally out of line with the discharge head, it has heretofore not been known how to accomplish the operation of disposing the discharge head and tube in place automatically, and it had to be manually performed. Since the assembly and filling of pressurized dispensing containers is, by and large, an automatic operation, a great many workers, occupying a great deal of space, at great cost, were required to perform such assembly operation in order to keep up with the automatic steps on the production line.

The present invention is directed to the provision of automatic apparatus for assembling the subassembly of discharge head and tube with the receptacle or can of a pressurized dispensing container, in readiness for securing such discharge head to the receptacle.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of automatic apparatus, of the character described, which will operate at a high rate of speed, and is fully capable of keeping up with the other automated steps in the production of pressurized dispensing containers.

The present invention contemplates, additionally, the provision of apparatus, of the character described, which is sure and certain in its operation, with a minimum, if any, chance of miss or fault.

The present invention likewise contemplates the provision of apparatus, of the character described, which is relatively compact and occupies a minimum of flow space.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of apparatus,,of the character described, which is wholly mechanical, is of simple construction and economical to produce; is strong and sturdy, and which will require a minimum of attention for maintenance and repair.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the assembly apparatus of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawto be here shown.

, Patented May 3, 1966 ings and from the description following. It is to be understood, hwever, that such embodiment is shown by Way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic, top plan view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention partly broken away to show structural details;

FIG. 2 is a more or less diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; partly broken away to show details of construction and mode of operation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33 of the FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view, on an enlarged scale; taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Generally stated, the present invention resides in the provision of means by which discharge heads are each having its discharge tube oriented in dependent relation are individually, sucessively engaged and gradually raised above a turntable a distance equal to the length of a discharge tube, simultaneously straightening the discharged tube to its lower end in alinement with the discharge head, and thereafter gradually lowered into the opening of a receptacle that moves along on the turntable synchronously with the discharge head in time and space.

More specifically stated, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a turntable 10, which may be supported for rotation as in a clockwise direction, in any desired suitable manner as by an upright shaft 12, journaled at its ends in bearings 14 and 16, and carrying a worm gear 18, that is engaged by a driving worm gear 20, connected to a source of power not thought necessary The turntable 10 is provided along its periphery with spaced stations 22 for receiving and'holding and moving along with it receptacle 24 supplied from a conveyor 26 which is arranged in normal relation to the edge of the turntable 10. Such stations 22 may be of any conventional type. They' may comprise a pair of bars 28 secured to the surface of the turntable 10, adjacent its edge, at an angle to'one another to define an outwardly opening triangular space within which the receptacle 24 may be disposed and engaged for movement. Means, such as a railing 30 may be provided, if necessary, along the edge of the turntable 10 between stations 22 to prevent positioning of the receptacles on the table at any place except at the stations 22.

Also mounted on the shaft 12 above the turntable 10 at a height therefrom equal to substantially to the height of a receptacle 24, is a second turntable, 32, of lesser diameter than turntable 10, and having spaced triangular indexing notches, 34, formed in its edge; each notch 34 arranged to be in register with one of the receptaclereceiving stations 22 and disposed in position to register with the opening, 25, of a receptacle 24, disposed in such station. Each notch 34 is of a depth just adequate to accommodate the thickness of a discharge tube, 36, secured to a discharge head, 38. Fixedly supported, as by uprights, 40, on a level with the turntable 32, and surrounding it in close proximity, is a stationary ring, 42, which may be split, to provide a gap as at 44, at a point substantially diametrically opposite theconveyor 26.

' Fixedly supported above the edge of the turntable 32, as

by the overhang, 41, of upright 40, is a circular ramp, generally designated as 46, consisting of a pair of spaced, concentric circular bars, 50, defining between them a guideway, 52, which overlies the circular row of spaced notches 34 in the turntable 32. The ramp 46 forms an incomplete circle having its lowest point at one end thereof rest substantially against the turntable 32, in alinement with the clockwise side of the gap, 44, and rising gradually to its highest point opposite the conveyor 26, and then gradually inclining downwardly, to terminate at a height slightly above the turntable 32 in advance of gap 44.

Means may be provided for discharging receptacles from the turntable 10, comprising a bar, 54, extending across the marginal edge portion of the turntable at a point in advance of the gap 44 and at a height above bars 28 and at such an angle to the diameter of the turntable 10 that a receptacle moved thereon will strike the side of the bar 54 to be shifted thereby out of a station 22 and onto a conveyor, 56, that will carry it away from .the apparatus.

The apparatus of the present invention further comprises means for supplying the sub-assembly of discharge heads, each with a discharge tube, for assembly with the receptacle 22. Such means may comprise a hopper feed, as of the vibratory type, of any conventional, suitable type, diagrammatically illustrated at 60. The hopper may be supported in any suitable manner in substantially elevated relation relative to the turntable 32, on the side thereof approximately diametrically opposed to the conveyor 26; its outlet leading to a substantially steep ramp, 62, composed of spaced bars, 64, defining a guideway, 66, whose lower end coincides with the inner edge of the turntable 32 and terminates closely adjacent to the lower end of the ramp 46.

This completes the description of construction of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, which operates as follows: Assembled discharge heads and tubes 38 and 36 are fed from the hopper 60 to the ramp 62 and are guided downwardly, towards the turntable 32; the heads of the assembly being supported on the ramp sides 64 while their discharge tube extends dependently therefrom through the guideway 66. As the turntable 10 rotates, and a notch 34 thereof registers with theguideway 66, the discharge tube of the lowermost of the subassembled head and tube will move into a notch 34, the head 38 becoming disengaged from the ramp 60 and being engaged, as the turntable 32 rotates upon the ramp. As the turntable 32 continues to rotate, the discharge tube 36 of each sub-assembly is locked into a notch 34 by the edge of the ring 44 and is carried along by the notch upwardly on the ramp 46 simultaneously, because of the stiffness of the tube 36, moving the head 36 upwardly on the ramp 46, to its uppermost position, opposite the conveyor 46 Where receptacles 22 are introduced on the turntable 10 which, as will be obvious, rotates with the turntable 32.

It may be stated that at its most elevated point the ramp 46 is raised to a height, where the lower end of a tube 36, at that point, will just miss the top of a receptacle 32, below it, without being withdrawn from the notch 34 confining and straightening it. It will be clear, therefore, that as the assembled head and discharge tube are gradually raised on the ramp, the notch 34 will engage against the tube 38, which is confined therein by ring 44, to straighten it and when the assembled head and tube reach the uppermost point of the ramp 46, the free end of the tube 38 will be in register with the head 36 and be disposed immediately above the opening 25 of a receptacle 24.

As the turntables continue to rotate, the downward slope of the ramp 44 will cause the head and tube 38 and ,26 to be lowered, with the 1 1 b? 56 entering the opening 25 of the receptacle 24 and continuing to be lowered thereinto until the end of the ramp 44 is reached, at which point the head 38 will clear the ramp 46 and will be disposed substantially on top of the receptacle 24, beyond such point, the receptacle 24, with the discharge tube within it and the discharge head resting on top of it, is displaced by the bar 54 onto the conveyor 56. To insure the downward movement of the discharge head and tube end int-o a receptacle 24 on the downward slope of the ramp 46, an overhang, 70, may be provided over the downward sloping of the ramp 44, which will engage the top of the discharge head to positively move it downwardly. It may here be stated that the apparatus may be of such size that the ramp 46 may rise at a relatively small angle, as of about 10 to the horizontal, to provide a minimum of resistance to the upward movement of a discharge head 38 on the ramp.

This completes the description of the assembly apparatus of the present invention and the method of its operation. It will be readily apparent that while such apparatus is of relatively simple construction and relatively economical to produce, it will be highly effective and efficient for its purpose to assemble the sub-assembly of a discharge head and tube with the receptacle of a pressure-dispensing container at relatively high speed and with certainty of operation. It will also be apparent that such apparatus is compact, is substantially foolproof in its operation, and will require a minimum of attention,

maintenance and care.

It will also be apparent that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the assembly apparatus of the present invention by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth, without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such variations and modifications that may be :made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for automatically assembling the subassemblies of discharge heads and attached flexible discharge tubes of pressure dispensing containers with the receptacles of the containers, comprising a movable platformhaving spaced stations provided thereon each adapted to receive and hold one of said receptacles, means moving said platform, a body above and parallel to said platform and overlying said stations and spaced thereabove a vertical distance equal substantially to the height of a receptacle, means interconnecting said body and said platform in fixed relation for simultaneous movement, said body having an edge thereof disposed inwardly of the corresponding edge of said platform and having spaced notches formed in said edge, each in register with one of said stations on said platform and arranged to substantially overlie and register with the opening of a receptacle held in said one station, a ramp fixedly supported above said body edge adapted to support a discharge head for sliding movement thereon with its discharge tube in dependent position, said ramp including an upwardly slanting section adapted to receive said discharge heads and rising from substantially the upper surface of said body to a point spaced therefrom a distance slightly less than the length of the projecting portion of a discharge tube, and a downwardly slanting portion adapted to discharge said head and having its free end at substantially the level of said body surface, said notches each engaging the discharge tube of one of said subassemblies to move said discharge head upwardly on said first ramp section and guide its end into the opening of a receptacle held in the station below it and to guide said discharge tube and move said discharge head along said second ramp section, as said platform is moved relative to said ramp.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ramp is disposed at a relatively small angle to said platform.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ramp comprises a pair of parallel bars spaced horizontally from one another a distance equal at least to the thickness of a discharge tube and less than the thickness of a discharge head; the space between said bars being in substantial alinement with said notches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein means are provided over said downwardly-sloping section of said ramp in vertical, spaced and substantially parallel relation thereto adapated to engage the top of a discharge head moving on said ramp section for lowering said head on said ramp and depressing the tube attached thereto into a receptable moving therebelow.

5. Apparatus for assembling the subassembly of a discharge head and attached discharge tube with the receptacle of a presusre-dispensing container, comprising, in combination, a turntable having peripherally-disposed spaced stations for receiving and moving receptacles of pressure-dispensing containers, circular ramp means above said turntable for supporting the discharge head of a subassembly for sliding movement thereon with the discharge tube thereof in dependent position, said ramp means including an upwardly-slanting section rising to a point where the discharge tube of a subassembly restings thereon has its free end disposed at substantially the height of a receptacle disposed in one of said turntable stations and a downwardly-slanting section having its free end at substantially receptacle height above said turntable, and means intermediate said turntable and said ramp means, movable in synchronism with said turntable, vertically slidably engaging the discharge tube of a subassembly for slidably moving the head thereof on said ramp means, each said tube-engaging means arranged to be in substantial vertical register with the opening of a receptacle disposed in a station on said conveyor means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means vertically, slidably engaging the said discharge tubes comprises a second turntable, at receptacle height above said first turntable and movable in synchronism therewith, said second turntable having its edge in positon of substantially overlying the openings of receptacles disposed in the stations on said first turntable, said second turntable having notches formed in its edge each in substantial, vertical register with the opening of a receptacle disposed on one of said stations on said first turntable, said notches each of a size to accommodate the thickness of a discharge tube therewithin, and a fixed, circular guard member surrounding said second turntable in close proximity to the edge thereof for locking the discharge tube within the notches against displacement therefrom; said guard member having an opening formed therein at a point substantially diametrically opposite the high point of said ramp means wherethrough subassemblies may have their discharge tubes engaged within said notches.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said ramp comprises a pair of parallel circular bars lying in a common plane and spaced from one another a distance equal to the thickness of a discharge tube and less than the thickness of a discharge head; the space between the said bars being in substantial alinement with said notches.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein means are provided over the downwardly-sloping section of said ramp in vertically-spaced parallel relation thereto, adapted to engage the top of a discharge head moving on said ramp section for lowering said head on said ramp.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the endof said first ramp section terminates at an edge of the opening formed in said circular guard and in substantial contact with the surface of said second turntable and the end of the other section of said ramp terminates a distance from the other edge of said opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, including means for conveying receptacles to the stations on said first turntable at a point below the highest point of said ramp.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, including means for automatically feeding subassemblies to said ramp, said means arranged to direct the discharge tube of said subassemblies to said conveyors at the edge of said opening in said guide member adjacent the end of said first ramp section.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, including conveyor means at a point past the end of said second ramp section for conveying receptacles from said first turntable and means intermediate said turntables for directing said receptacles from said first turntable to said conveyor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,630 3/1954 Bitzer et al 29211 X 2,810,249 10/1957 Wysocki 53-3 17 2,914,781 12/1959 Prutton 29--211 X 3,054,170 9/1962 Benichasa et al 29-208 3,112,562 12/1963 Wilson 29211 X 3,118,218 1/1964 Gleasonet a1 29208 X 3,141,278 7/1964 Wysocki 533 19 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ASSEMBLING THE SUBASSEMBLIES OF DISCHARGE HEADS AND ATTACHED FLEXIBLE DISCHARGE TUBES OF PRESSURE DISPENSING CONTAINERS WITH THE RECEPTACLES OF THE CONTAINERS, COMPRISING A MOVABLE PLATFORM HAVING SPACED STATIONS PROVIDED THEREON EACH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND HOLD ONE OF SAID RECEPTACLES, MEANS MOVING SAID PLATFORM A BODY ABOVE THAT PARALLEL TO SAID PLATFORM AND OVERLYING SAID STATIONS AND SPACED THEREABOVE A VERTICAL DISTANCE EQUAL SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE HEIGHT OF A RECEPTACLE, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID BODY AND SAID PLATFORM IN FIXED RELATION FOR SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT, SAID BODY HAVING AN EDGE THEREOF DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THE CORRESPONDING EDGE OF SAID PLATFORM AND HAVING SPACED NOTCHES FORMED IN SAID EDGE, EACH IN REGISTER WITH ONE OF SAID STATIONS ON SAID PLATFORM AND ARRANGED TO SUBSTANTIALLY OVERLIE AND REGISTER WITH THE OPENING OF A RECEPTACLE HELD IN SAID ONE STATION, A RAMP FIXEDLY SUPPORTED ABOVE SAID BODY EDGE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A DISCHARGE HEAD FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREON WITH ITS DISCHARGE TUBE IN DEPENDENT POSITION, SAID RAMP INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY SLANTING SECTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID DISCHARGE HEADS AND RISING FROM 